Motor System for Diminution of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere

ABSTRACT

A motor system is described that sequesters ambient carbon dioxide to a removable carbonate salt by reacting ambient carbon dioxide with an alkali metal hydroxide. The carbon dioxide is aspirated by a turbo-generator that receives exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The turbo-generator produces electricity to form the hydroxide in situ from the electrolysis of water in a salt solution.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reciprocating internal combustion engine which sequesters ambient CO₂ into a carbonate salt, thereby helping to reduce a primary cause of global warming.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Global warming is expected to become an increasingly important issue for a significant fraction of the world's population. Global temperatures are expected to rise several degrees in the coming decades, leading to extreme weather events, ozone depletion, animal and plant extinctions and more pronounced spread of diseases. Driving much of this warming are hydrocarbon emissions from automobile sources. It is thus natural to assert that since automobiles have brought to our present global warming crisis, they should be the conduit to reverse present CO₂ buildup.

We assert that this reversal can be best accomplished via the construction of an automobile motor that burns a carbon-free fuel while at the same time reduces the ambient levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is accomplished in the present invention by the reaction of incoming CO₂ with aqueous base in the motor system. The aqueous base is produced in situ by electrochemical oxidation of water in the presence of a metal salt. The energy for the electrolysis derives in part from a turbo-generator connected to exhaust end of an internal combustion engine. The reaction of CO₂ with hydroxide base is illustrated as follows for hydroxide salts possessing group I cations M⁺:

CO₂+2M⁺(OH⁻)→M₂CO₃+H₂0

It is understood that cations from groups I (for example Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺), group II (for example Ca⁺² or Sr⁺²) or group III (e.g Al⁺³), as well as transition metals, may be used. M may also represent ammonia containing cations, such as NH₄ ⁺. The resulting carbonate salt can be collected in a suitable receptacle in the automobile and later disposed in solid form. In this manner we have a net reversal of CO₂ emissions. The reaction vessel may be in the form of a grill having hydroxide-containing channels that are exposed to incoming air/CO₂. The reaction vessel containing aqueous base may be located in the path to the intake manifold of the engine or it may be located in the path after combustion. The present invention can be also be used in an automobile that burns hydrocarbons, for a diminution of CO2 emissions. Typical reaction temperatures would be from −25° C. to 100° C.

The hydroxide in the present invention is made in situ via the electrolysis of an aqueous salt solution as shown in the following reaction:

2M⁺+2H₂O+2e⁻→H₂+2MOH

where M is again a metal.

We hereby provide an illustration in FIG. 1 of the manner in which the present invention can be attached to an internal combustion engine to reduce emissions. The hydrogen-powered motor has been described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/611,861. This is by no means the sole manner by which the present invention can be attached to an internal combustion engine.

As shown in the FIG. 1, a reaction vessel 23, termed ‘CO2 Eliminator’, is placed inline with the motor air intake. The reaction vessel is preferably a high surface area structure containing an aqueous hydroxide solution that reacts with the incoming carbon dioxide. The solution is circulated in the reaction vessel until it is heavily laden with carbonate salt. The carbonate slurry is transferred to a receptacle that precipitates out the carbonate. The aqueous hydroxide is obtained via electrochemical oxidation of a salt solution (e.g. chloride) contained in the electrolyser shown attached to the CO2 Eliminator. Electricity to run the electrolyser can come from different sources. It can come from an electrochemical storage device such as a battery or the turbo-generator. The turbo-generator can also store energy in the batteries or fuel cells. Typically turbos in automobiles intake hot exhaust and send it back to the engine. In our case the turbo-generator aspirates fresh air to cool the internal engine components and to react the ambient carbon dioxide. The water can come extraneously from a receptacle or can be generated in situ from condensation of exhaust gas. 

1. A motor system that reduces carbon dioxide pollution in the atmosphere consisting of the following: An internal combustion engine A reaction vessel containing an alkali metal hydroxide that is connected inline to the internal combustion engine A turbogenerator connected inline to the internal combustion engine that receives exhaust gases from said motor and produces electricity via the conversion of rotational energy. Wherein said turbogenerator aspirates air into the reaction vessel and sequesters carbon dioxide from air.
 2. A motor system according to claim 1 in which the alkali metal hydroxide is generated in situ via the electrochemical oxidation of water in the presence of a metal salt.
 3. A motor system according to claim 1 in which the turbo-generator generates current for electrolysis of water.
 4. A motor system according to claim 1 in which the internal combustion engine burns hydrogen.
 5. A motor system according to claim 1 in which the aspirated air by the turbo-generator cools internal engine components.
 6. A motor system according to claim 1 in which the turbo-generator derives its rotation in part from the flow of exhaust gases.
 7. A system according to claim 1 in which the electricity generated by the turbo-generator is used to power an electrochemical system, selected from fuel cells and storage batteries.
 8. A system according to claim 1 in which the electricity generated by the turbo-generator is used to power one or more electrolysers.
 9. A system according to claim 1 in which the turbo-generator produces electricity that generates hydrogen, oxygen, or hydroxide.
 10. A motor system comprising the following: Five cylinders or a multiple of 5 cylinders; Wherein each cylinder contains two compressible chambers Wherein first chamber, called the fuel chamber, comprises a cavity made between the inner surface of a cylinder and outer surface of a sliding member moving within said cylinder, Wherein second chamber, called the oxidant chamber, comprises a cavity made between the inner surface of sliding member moving within said cylinder and the outer surface of a piston moving within said sliding member, a fuel source for introducing hydrogen, diesel, or a low carbon hydrocarbon into the fuel chamber; an oxygen source for introducing an oxygen-containing gas mixture into the oxidant chamber; a means for mixing fuel and oxygen from said fuel chamber and oxidant chambers; a means for igniting this mixture within the oxidant chamber; whereby said reciprocating pistons are jointly attached to a rotating member whose axis of rotation follows a non-circular trajectory during one revolution. Wherein a reaction vessel is connected inline to the oxidant chamber, and said vessel reacts aspirated ambient carbon dioxide with hydroxide to yield a carbonate salt.
 11. A motor according to claim 10 in which the fuel source is hydrogen, methane, propane, diesel, or any combination of these.
 12. A system according to claim 10 in which the sources are selected from liquid-containing tanks, gas-containing tanks or compressors.
 13. A system according to claim 10 in which the sources derive their input from an electrolyser powered by an electrochemical storage system or generator.
 14. A system including the following: A motor according to claim 10 A turbo-generator connected to this motor that receives exhaust gases from said motor and produces electricity via the conversion of rotational energy.
 15. A system according to claim 14 in which the turbo-generator is used to ventilate the motor or motor components.
 16. A system according to claim 14 in which the electricity generated by the turbo-generator is used to power an electrochemical system, selected from fuel cells and storage batteries.
 17. A system according to claim 14 in which the electricity generated by the turbo-generator is used to power one or more electrolysers.
 18. A system according to claim 14 in which the turbo-generator produces electricity used to generate hydrogen, or oxygen, or hydroxide. 